Improvement in mole-plows



.E. & w. PARRISH, Jr.

Mole-Plow.

Patented Feb. 21, 1860 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS PARRISH AND WATSON PARRISH, JR, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOLE-PLOWS,

Spccification forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,233, dated February 21, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELIAS PARRISH and WATSON PARRISH, J r., both of Galesburg, in the county ofKnoX, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mole-Flows and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of our improved mole-plow. Fig. 2 represents a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on line A B, Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent views of portions of the covering device detached.

A is the mole or plow, having a groove, H, running from the point up and back to the colter 0 onto a sliding piece, B,which is hinged to colter G, as shown in the drawings at B. Another groove, G, is also formed near the bottom of the mole, commencing at the point and running back on each side to the rear of the plow, as fully shown in the drawings. The under side of the colter is also hollowed out, as shown at I.

The mole or plow part A is drawn forward by means of the draft-piece or tongue D,which is mortised out so as to be attached to the colter O by an adjusting-wedge, m, in combination with rods or cross-piecesnn,whereby the depth at which the drain is to be made can be varied at pleasure.

The team is hitched to a ring or staple, b, in the front end of the draft-piece D, while the draft-piece is supported an d properly balanced on the top of the ground by means of the sled a and runner c.

To the rear end of the draft-piece D is hinged a frame, E, by means of two hinges, e e. The frame E is provided with two scrapers, f f, and a supporting and covering wheel, F, the latter being fastened to a shaft or journal, g, which turns in bearings h h, the bearings h h being hinged to the frame E ati 'i. Linkj, which unites the side pieces of frame E, permits the frame E, to which wheel F is attached by hinged bearings t t, to twist, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5.

The draft-piece D, colter 0, mole or plow part A, slide-piece B, and frame E being connected as fully shown in the drawings, the operation is as follows, viz: Power being applied to the draft-piece D, the colter cuts through the ground as the team advances, while the part- A forces the soil or dirt laterally and upward. A part of the dirt being guided up the groove H is conducted back behind the colter, where it is forced up into the cut or opening made by the colter, so as to effectually close the same. The scrapers ff being connected to the frame E,as shown in the drawings, scrape up and throw back any dirt which may happen to be cast up above the surface of the ground into the cut made by the colter, while the wheel F follows to press and pack it down even and smooth. 7

In turning corners it is important to have the cut made by the colter well closed and smoothed down, so that water may not force its way down into the drain from above or from the drain upward to the surface of the ground, since in either case there would be great danger of the drain being filled up by dirt and rubbish washing in from the surface of the ground. We guard against these contingencies by providing the rear top part of the mole A with a grooved sliding or hinged piece, B, whereby in turning the mole the part B will not be turned abruptly, but will yield on its hinge B, so as to make the curve gradual, and thus will pack and stop the cut or opening made by the colter even at the curves or corners in the drain. Another advantage of the sliding or hinged piece B is that no hinge is necessary between the rear and front part of A. Consequently there is no joint to get filled upwith dirt.

As the scrapers are fastened to a frame which can swing or twist laterally, and as the shaft of the wheel F is supported in bearings which can also vibrate laterally, they are not abruptly turned at the corners or bends in the drain,

but continue on and make a gradual curve, so

well as in the straight portions thereof. By,

grooving out the under side of the mole, as seen at I, much friction is avoided, while the bottom of the drain is left in aloose and porous condition,whereby the water enters more freely than it would if the bottom of the drain were compressed and packed down hard.

A large amount of draining. is done on land covered by heavy grass, and which is liable to catch and accumulate under the beam D as the team advances, so as to often lift or throw up the mole A out of the drain; but this is avoided in our mole-plow by extending or widening out the lower edge so as to form the groove G, so that the part of the mole A which is below the groove G, projecting laterally, holds the mole A from rising up, and consequently any obstruction which happens to get in under the draft-beam D, however sudden, does not act on our mole-plow so as to endanger the drain before the obstruction is discovcred.

Another advantage of the laterally-projecting sides of the bottom of the mole A is that the surface of the bottom of the drain is greatly increased without materially increasing the size of the drain, and which is of much importance, especially in draining clayey soils,since the passage of the water through such soils is very slow.

Having described our mole-plow, what We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. The combination of the grooved hinged piece B with the colter G and mole part A, arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the hinged frame E, roll F, hinged bearings h h, and scrapers f j with the rear end of the draft-beam D, substantially as set forth.

ELIAS PARRI SH. "WATSON 'PARRISH, J R.

Witnesses:

A. O. WILEY, H. W. CARPENTER. 

